Designing HMI for BVI Users in Fully Automated Vehicles: A Participatory and In-the-field Approach

Fully Automated Vehicles (FAVs) have the potential to provide blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals with mobility independence. However, understanding their user experience in this new form of transportation presents challenges. Researchers in human-computer interaction and accessibility lack comprehensive guidance on conducting safe and ecologically valid studies with BVI participants. This poster reviews the literature and proposes a methodology for conducting field research with BVI users in automated vehicles, particularly in designing the human-machine interface (HMI) for FAVs. We present the participatory and in-the-field method with example study designs: a focus group for field study and an on-road driving study with a Wizard of Oz FAV. This method will assist researchers in gaining deeper insights into the interaction between BVI users and automated vehicles in the real world.